Water-tube boiler



No. 68,839. Patented Nov. 8, I898.

A. E. HOWLAND.

WATER TUBE BOILER.

(Application filed Dec. 21, 1897.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

WITNESSESI I N V [N T0 M EiBe/n @Howlom M M mama/egg No. 68,839. Patented Nov.'8, 1898.

A. E. HOWLAND. .WATEB TUBE BOILER.

1 (Application filed Dec. 21, I891.) (No Model.) 2 Shoots-Sheet 2.

Pi i n4: NORRS versus Pagan-mun" WASNINGTON n. c,

ilmrnn STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

ALLEN E. HOWLAND, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

WATER-TUBE BOILER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 613,839, dated November 8, 1898 Application filed December 21, 1897. Serial No. 662,830. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALLEN E. HOWLAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Water-Tube Boilers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description'of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in water-tube boilers; and its object is to provide the same with certain new and useful features hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a longitudinal vertical section of a device embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a detail showing the outside return and feedwater connections; Fig. 3, an elevation of the steam-drum and front headers viewed from the front; Fig. 4, an elevation of the muddrum and rear headers viewed from the rear; Fig. 5, a transverse section of the tubes on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6, a perspective detail of one section of the diaphragm I; Fig. 7, a transverse section of the same on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6, and Fig. 8 a perspective detail of one of the plates P.

Like letters refer to like parts in all of the figures.

The steam-generator proper consists of a number of large tubes E, arranged parallel to each other a short distance apart and in a series of vertical rows. \Vithin each of said tubes is a smaller tube F. The annular space between these tubes constitutes the waterspace. Each vertical row of tubes is provided at its respective ends with continuous vertical hollow headers O D, substantially rectangular in cross-section and having open spaces between them. Thelarger tubes E are attached to the adjacent walls of these headers and open into the interior of the same, and the smaller tubes pass entirely through the headers and are fixed in the outer walls thereof, thus opening into the spaces beyond the headers. To permit the insertion of the larger tubes, the smaller tubes are surrounded at one end with removable bushings R,

ward into a steam-drum A, arranged trans versely in the upper front part of the arch K, and the rear headers O are attached to and open downward into a mud-drum B, arranged transversely in the lower rear part of said arch. Both of said drums extend outside of the arch and are connected by a pipe G G, arranged outside the arch K and extending vertically from the water-line of the steam-drum to the level of the mud-drum and thence horizontally into the same. The feed-water-pipe H is inserted at the angle of this pipe G G. Above the bridge-wall J is a sectional diaphragm I, extending at right angles to the tubes E and closing the space between the same. Said diaphragm is made of pairs plates 1 I, held parallel and at a distance from each other by sleeves S and secured by rivetsT passing through said sleeves and plates. Said plates have semicircular opposing depressions in their opposite edges which engage the surface of the tubes, the plate between said depressions extending to the plane of the axis of the tubes E. The spaces betweenthe front headers 'D are closed by removable plates P to prevent the hot products of combustion from passing directly to the stack N and to force the same to pass upward between the tubes E, thence over the diaphragm I and downward behind the same, thence between the headers 0 into the rear space of the arch, and thence through the inner tubes F to the front space of the arch, and thence to the stack N.

By opening the front Q and removing the plates P a suitable tool may be inserted between the headers. These plates being coupled in pairs, as described, are self-supporting without attaching to those above and below, and any pair can be removed without disturbing the others by uncoupling and turning them down.

The inner surface of the inner tubes may y be cleaned by any convenient means.

inserting the vertical pipe G at the waterline of the steam-drum the impurities that rise on the water are drawn off and carried to the mud-drum. By injecting the feed-water at the angle of the pipe G G and allowing it to move along the horizontal part G it tends to cool the water and precipitate the sediment and at the same is mingled with the already-heated water and warmed thereby before reaching the boiler. By carrying the return water from the steam-drum to the mud-drum outside the arch it is not heated during the return, and thus circulates more freely and the mud-drum is kept cooler and in best condition to precipitate the sediment in the water.

The products of combustion pass upward between the upper ends of the tubes, thence over the diaphragm I, and thence downward between the lower ends of the tubes, and thence between the rear headers into the space at the rear of the arch, and thence forward through the inner tubes to the stack N.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and wish to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a steam-boiler, a series of inclined outer tubes arranged in vertical rows and connected to a steam-drum at their upper ends and with separate headers for each row at the lower end, said headers having spaces between them, inner tubes extending through said outer tubes and through the headers and opening into a smoke-stack at their upper ends, a grate beneath the upper ends of said tubes, and a bridge-wall and transverse diaphragm near the middle of said tubes,whereby the circulation of the products of combustion is upward between the upper ends of the tubes; downward between the lower ends of the same, thence rearward between the rear headers, and thence forward through the inner tubes, substantially as described.

2. In a steam-boiler, outer inclined pipes arranged in parallel vertical rows, separate headers for each row and at each end of said pipes having open spaces between them and connecting the interior of said pipes with a steam-drum above the upper ends of said pipes, and a mud-dru m below the lower ends thereof, inner pipes extending wholly through the outer pipes and headers and opening into a smoke-stack at the upper end and into a smoke-chamberat the lower end, and removable plates to close the spaces between the upper headers, substantially as described.

3. In a steam-boiler, a series of inclined outer tubes arranged in vertical rows, separate headers opposite each row having the respective ends of said tubes inserted in their adjacent walls, inner tubes in said outer 'tubes passing wholly through said headers and attached to the outer walls thereof, removable bushings in said headers surround ing the ends of said inner tubes, a steamdrum above the front headers and connected therewith, a mud-drum below the rear headers and connected therewith, a return-pipe opening into the steam-drum at the waterline, extending vertically to the level of the mud-drum and thence horizontally to said mud-drum and connected therewith, and a feed-water pipe entering at the angle of said return-pipe, substantially as described.

4. The combination of a series of inclined outer tubes arranged in vertical rows, headers at the respective ends of each row of said tubes and connected therewith, inner tubes within said outer tubes and extending wholly through said headers, a steam-drum above the front headers and connected therewith, plates closing the spaces between the front headers, a mud-drum beneath the rear headers and connected therewith, an arch surrounding said tubes and headers having a bridge-wall beneath said tubes, a grate, a firefront, and smoke-stack, and smoke-chambers at each end. of said tubes, and a return-pipe extending from the water-level of the steamdrum to the mud-drum and wholly outside of said arch and a feed-water pipe opening into said return-pipe, substantially as described.

5. In combination with a water-tube boiler having a series of parallel tubes, separate pairs of plates between each horizontal series of tubes, and having semicircular opposing depressions in their edges embracing said tubes, tubular sleeves between said plates, and rivets passing through said sleeves and plates, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALLEN E. IIOWLAND.

\Vitnesses:

LUTHER V. MoUL'roN, MYRoN FLANDERs. 

